Colony of Cape of Good Hope

History and other information:

This map was drawn and engraved by the brothers William and Daniel Lizars whose family were well known Edinburgh engravers. The map was included in James Miller's Imperial Atlas of 1818. The map extends well beyond the eastern borders of the Cape Colony and is, therefore, a map of Southern Africa from half a degree north of Luderitz in the north-west to the bay of 'LorenzaMarquez' (today's Maputo) in the north-east. The prime meridian is Greenwich.

Somewhat surprisingly for an 1818 map it shows the 1801-1802 route to the north-east, to the 'country of the Booshuanas (Bechuanas)', taken by the Truter & Somerville party. One of the lasting produucts of that journey were the beautiful drawings by Samuel Daniell. The central 'missionary village' in the'land of the Kora (an ethnic group now absorbed into others) was Klaarwater (Griqua Town today).

Many of the toponyms suggest that one of the Lizars' primary source of information was Barrow's map - the similar latitudes of Table and Algoa Bays (the latter is Zwarthops Bay on the map) is also consistent with Barrow's influence. On the other hand, very few of the villages well established by then are shown, e.g. Graaff Reinet is not named.

This map is scarce - no recorded sales on the Antique Map Price record.

Condition: the map is in very good condition and it has been de-acidified. There is a fine line of matt stain between the neat and plate lines. 

References: not in Norwich or Tooley, but is in No. 17 of the Map Collectors' Series by D Schrire ((#32 and Plate IX).

Summary: This is an attractive map of early 19th century southern Africa as it was known to the English - it also records the route of the famous Truter & Somerville party to Latakoo.